The Supreme Court of Pakistan has struck down key amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, which were passed by the previous government in 2022. The amendments had weakened the NAB’s powers and made it more difficult to prosecute corruption cases.
In a unanimous decision, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial ruled that the amendments were unconstitutional and void. The bench found that the amendments had violated the fundamental rights of the people to access justice and protect public property from waste and malfeasance.
The court’s decision is a major blow to the efforts of the previous government to shield itself from accountability. It also comes at a time when the new government is under pressure to take action against corruption.
The amendments that were struck down by the court included the following:
- A provision that excluded elected holders of public office from the NAB’s jurisdiction.
- A provision that raised the https://promarkitbusiness.com/ minimum pecuniary threshold for NAB cases from Rs.50 million to Rs.500 million.
- A provision that allowed NAB to close cases without the approval of a court.
- A provision that gave NAB the power to grant bail to accused persons.
The court’s decision has been welcomed by anti-corruption activists and lawyers. They say that it will strengthen the NAB and make it more effective in fighting corruption.
The government has said that it will accept the court’s decision and will work to implement it. However, it is unclear how the government will implement the decision, given that the amendments were passed by the parliament.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a landmark victory in the fight against corruption in Pakistan. It is a signal that no one is above the law, and that those who engage in corruption will be held accountable.
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